TAU SA's congress proposes a summit on land ownership

"None of our members nor other farmers in the country stole their land. We obtained our title deeds legally and therefore we do not owe anybody an apology for owning and cultivating our land for the benefit of the whole country. "

This is one of the resolutions adopted during TAU SA`s annual general congress which ended in Pretoria today.

The resolution proposes a comprehensive land summit of all stakeholders who claim to have any rights on land. "Any claimant to land are challenged to submit documented evidence so that such claims could be evaluated by experts and historians in accordance to international guidelines and practices."

Congress also directed that the issue of water quality should receive urgent attention and if necessary even legal action should be considered against the State as self- appointed custodian of the country`s water and who fails to maintain healthy standards.

Other resolutions adopted are:

• the issue of economies of scale which could be overcome by a model of cooperation to ensure that the majority of farmers will remain productive ;
• time-proven cooperative models which should be investigated as a possibility of beating the cost squeeze and collectively bargain for better prices from input suppliers, as well as products delivered;
• farmers should not necessarily accept that they are price takers and export opportunities should thus be seized whilst involving themselves in the entire domestic value chain;
• concepts and methods should be investigated and where possible implemented nationwide to deliver the product directly to the consumer ensuring better prices for both producer and consumer;
• congress has directed cost effective labour practices is necessary and mechanization and improved training of labor in order to increase productivity - a process that TAU SA has already initiated.

Mr Louis Meintjes was unanimously re-elected President of TAU SA, and Mr Henry Geldenhuys was unanimously re-elected Vice-President.

Statement issued by TAU SA, September 19 2013

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